Combined wall-paper display-rack and sample-case.



Patented Oct. 23, I900. E. C. FITHIAN.

COMBINED WALL PAPER DISPLAY BACK AND SAMPLE CASE.

(Applicsfiion filed Jan. 20, 1900.)

(No Model.)

\NVEN TOR \ZDVVARD G. FvrH IAN 'GMWW' HIS ATTORNEYS o-L|THo,, WASHINGTON. u. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD C. FITHIAN, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

COMBINED WALL-PAPER DISPLAY-RACK AND SAMPLE-CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 660,157, dated. October 23, 1900.

' Application filed January 20, 1900. Serial No. 2,090. (No model.)

To 60% whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD C. FITHIAN, of St. Paul, Ramsey county, Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Wall-Paper Display- Rack and Sample-Case, of which the followin g is a specification.

My invention relates to portable displayracks; and one object of the invention is to provide a light compact folding rack or frame which when folded will occupy but little space and may be conveniently carried in the hand and upon which when unfolded and set up wall-paper or like articles may be conveniently and attractively displayed.

A further object is to provide a folding display-rack which when folded will form a sample-case wherein sample-books of wallpaper or other articles may be placed and conveniently carried from house to house or from store to store.

A still further object is to provide a display-rack that will be extremely rigid and stable when unfolded and set up.

The invention consists generally in various constructions and combinations, all as hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure l is a perspective of a display-rack embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a top view of the same when folded. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line a: oof Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a side elevation partly in section and partly in dotted lines.

In the drawings, 2 represents a section or member of the rack, consisting of a rectangular frame of wood or other suitable material to which, at or nearone end, a frame 3, also preferably rectangular in form and comprising the second member or section of the rack, is hinged. The inner faces of the sides and ends of the member 3 are rabbeted, and said ends are connected at intervals by comparatively-thin slats 4, between which is secured a block 5, whereon a brace 6 is hinged. The brace 6 is provided inits under side with a series of notches 7, that are adapted to engage the edge of a brace 8, preferably of iron and havingits ends secured to the sides of the member 2 at a point preferably opposite the hinged ends of the brace 6. I prefer to provide offsets 9 near the ends of the brace 8, so that it will project out beyond the sides of the member 2 for the purpose hereinafter described.

The members 2 and 3, being substantially rectangular in form, have broad bases and are therefore very rigid and stable when the rack is set up. The third section or member of the rack is of substantially the same form, but is divided transversely into two members 10 and 11, hinged together, and the member 10 is hinged to the upper end of the member 2 on the opposite side from the member 3. The frames of both the members 10 and 11 have rabbeted inner edges and are provided with thin slats 12, arranged in substantially the same position with respect to their frames as the slats 4 heretofore described.

When the rack is set up, the lower end of the member 11 will rest upon the free end of the brace 6 and be supported by the brace S. The member 10 will be substantially hori- Zontal and afford a convenient resting-place for sample-books or other articles that are being displayed, and as the member 11 has a long bearing-surface on the frame 2 the part 10 will not tilt should any additional weight be placed on one side of the rack.

When folded, the sections of the rack will be of substantially the same length and will fit close together, the brace 6, hanging between the slats 4 and the projecting portion of the brace 8' fitting into the space between the rabbeted edgesof the member 11 and the thin slats 12. As there are no connectingslats in the section 2, it follows that when the rack is folded there will be a considerable space between the slats 4 and 12, and this space I design as a pocket or receptacle for wallpaper sample-books, the space being sufficient to accommodate three or four books, which is usually the number a salesman desires to carry. I prefer to provide a hook or knob 12"in the end of the section 10, upon which the sample-books maybe hung. On arriving at the store or residencethe salesman unfolds the rack, removes the b'ooks,and exhibits his samples, and as wall-paper cannot be attractively exhibited when spread out over a table the advantage to a salesman of having a horizontal rest for the book and an inclined support over which the samples may be exhibited will be obvious.

To hold the members together when the rack is folded, I provide hasps 13, pivoted on the frame 2 and engaging hooks let on the edges of the outer members. I also provide a handle 15 on the frame 2 for com-'ei'lience in carrying the rack.

While I have shown the device constructed of wood, it may obviouslybe made of other material, and in various ways the details of construction may be modified by any one skilled in the art withoutdeparting from in y invention. i

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A foldingdisplay-rack and sam pie-case, j comprising a middle or intermediate member, f outer members hinged thereon, one of said outer members being inclined with respect to said intermediate member when the device is in use to form a surface over which ttlbl'z cles such as wall-paper may bedisplayed, the 1 other outer member being supported hori-I zontally when set up to form a table or shelf, 1 and said outer mem bers being separated when 1 the device is folded forming a pocket or re-: ceptacle included by said intermediate member wherein articles may be placed.

2. A folding display-rack and sam pie-case, comprisingan intermediate leg member,outer members hinged thereon, one of said outer members forming the other leg of the rack and being inclined with respect to said inter- I mediate member, forming therewith an inverted. V,the other outer member being adapted to be supported in a substantially-horizontal plane when the device is set up, and the walls of said outer members being separated: when the device is folded forming a pocket or receptacle wherein articles may be placed. 3 3. A folding display-rack and sam ple-case, comprising a rectangular frame forming one leg or member of the rack, a second member or frame hinged on said first member, a third member also hinged to said first-named member, said second and third members having rabbeted inner edges and intermediate slats, whereby when said rack is folded a pocket or receptacle will be formed between said second and third members, forthe purpose specified.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a folding display-rack comprising an intermediate member forming a leg of the rack, outer members hinged thereon, one of said outer members forming the other leg of the rack, a hinged brace connecting said leg members, the second outer member being divided transversely into sections hinged together, the lower sec-1 tion forming a brace to support the upper in a substantially-horizontal position and having a lower end substantially the width ofsaid leg members and resting upon one end of said brace and said intermediate member,

substantially as described.

5. A folding display-rack and sample-case, comprising an intermediate member, and two outer members hinged thereon, one of said outer members forming a leg of the rack, the other outer member being divided transversely into two sect-ions hinged together the lower section forming a brace to support the upper in a horizontal position, means provided on said intermediate member to support said lower section, and a space being provided within said intermediate member and between said outer members forming a pocket or receptacle, for the purpose specified.

6. The combination, with an open intermediate frame, of two outerframes or members hinged thereon, said outer frames having rabbeted in-ner edges, slats of less thickness than said outer frames provided therein, whereby when said members are folded one upon the other a spaceor pocket will be formed between them, substantially as described.

'7. The combination, with an intermediate frame or member, of outer members hinged thereon, one of said outer members forn'iing a leg of the rack, the other outer member be ing transversely divided into two sections hinged together, the lower section supportingthe upper in a horizontal position, and a brace provided on said intermediate member and supporting said lower section, and said brace having offsets near its ends, for the pur pose specified.

8. A folding stand and case, comprising an intermediate member forming a leg of the stand, outer members pivoted thereon, one of said outer members being divided transversely intosections pivoted together, the lower section forming a brace to support the upper section at an angle to said intermediate member, and a space being provided between said outer members when the device is folded forming a pocket or receptacle, for the purpose specified.

9. A folding display-rack and sample-case, comprising an intermediate member or frame, outer members hinged thereon, a hinged brace having a series of notches provided on one of said outer members, a bar provided on said intermediate member in position to engage one of said notches, the other outer member being divided horizontally into sections hinged together, the lower section forming a brace to support the upper, and said lower section having its lower end resting upon the free end of said brace, substantially asdescribed.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 16th day of January, 1900.

EDWARD O. FITI-IIAN.

In presence of RICHARD PAUL, M. O. NooNAN. 

